- Did Northwest Pilots Fall Asleep? Mishap Suggests Fatigue - TIME
Kingfisher Airlines whose Chairman greets the passengers as GUESTS in his home as soon as the monitor starts and boasts of GOOD TIMES airline indeed put a question mark in my mind. The first time ever I flew with them, I lost my baggage. It was returned after three days with a " service recovery" gift umbrella few years ago. I did not fly with them later.
Recently, as the Jet Airlines were on Pilot strike, perforce I had to begin using them and I sort of continued with them for past two months as a Guest and Member of their Kings Club. Some of the cabin crew were indeed most wonderful, hospitable and par with any of the best airlines in the world and some downright arrogant, and unpolished. Many of the booking staff were the slowest and food supply was the worst ever. In Kingfisher Red you would be lucky if you were served half a sandwich as complimentary. Anyways, I was in double mind whether to fly to chennai and back from Bangalore on an ATR 72 500 aircraft for a 55 minute flight but decided I would save some time and chose Good Times.
The Chairman gives his email address in the flight videos on their brand new Airbus 321's and I had memorised it the very first time when I lost the baggage.
Today morning, I reached the Chennai Airport at 9.45am for a flight leaving at 11.05 and at the booking counter was told flight is delayed by 30 minute. Anyways I checked in. After security check I was watching the TV Monitor which was showing some kind of High security alert and I had not read about this in any newspaper so spent time watching TV News but did not find anything.
At 1125 the flight was announced and after many calls on the Walkie Talkie the booking " Guest Relations Manager" called the boarding sequence of Rows 1 to 9 to come forward. Having done a web check in with 4 c, I got in and entered the bus. Promptly about 30 odd passengers followed and by 11.35 we were in the flight. The safety announcements began I just dozed off.
At 1235 I woke up hearing the Captain's voice and thought we have probably landed in Bangalore.. My co passenger said - we are deplaning. Many were talking to an Air crew ( not worth calling Hostess) about it and she was telling them - " I heard the captain say, we shall deplane you all as Bangalore airport is shut down". I thought, Oh God - Not because of that High Security Alert ?! Many of the passengers were to catch a connecting Goa flight of KF from Bangalore and most of them - foreigners were worriedly making enquiries and getting a stock answer - " I shall check with the captain and let you know".
12.45 - we are asked to deplane. We are told that those who wish can have a FULL REFUND. Temp outside 30 degree celcius - inside passengers - Boiling !.
Those who had connecting flights were asked to go to Paramount who were flying direct to Goa and check at their counters if there are any seats available.
I asked, what time the flight will leave? Got a response - 2 PM. I followed all out of the terminal, entered again - was given a new boarding pass and 4 times the customer service handlers promised a " Very Heavy Refreshment at the Taj - Wings" prior to security check in COMPLIMENTARY".
1 PM - Only one service staff at Taj counter.
1.10PM All snacks served, People in Que were getting anxious, Hungry and thirsty (as you would be lucky to get water on arrival in KF Red flights ).
Sent a mail the the Chairman from my BBY. And read the link about the North West flight pilots sleeping and the new airline lingo about LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I wondered my momentary dozing was that or the Pilot had it or the ATC had it or the airline planning staff who were happy to burn fuel for one hour flat in an idling aircraft or the management who could not bother.
Boarded the aircraft at 205. Were airborne at 2.45 and Crew was assuring " Captain said he would make up time" to the Goa transshipment passengers ! WOW !
We land at Bangalore at 4.30 pm. I asked Airport staff about the issue. They say, every saturday they stop flights for 2 to 3 hours for maintenance and it is known to all airlines. I wondered - who was having a situational loss of awareness.
Customer Loyalty and giving a second chance ?- My foot 
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